Mosquito bites compared to bed bug bites have a number of differences and it’s important to know them. To you, they may be the same because you know that both feed on blood, but there is quite the number of specifications for each of the two types of bites.

For example, both insects bite to feed on your blood and both release skin numbing agent and an anticoagulant so you don’t feel while they feed. But only the bed bugs release a long-lasting painkiller and that’s why you can feel the mosquito biting you sometimes and but never the bed bugs.

And a major reason why it’s important to know the difference is that mosquitoes are known to transmit dangerous diseases.

Mosquito bites vs. bed bug bites: How to tell the difference?

There’s often a confusion between these bites because they both itch and swell. But here are the mosquito bites compared to bed bug bites.

Mosquito Bite

Bed Bug Bite

Appearance on human skin:

Isolated big white welts. Never in a cluster. Scratching them would make the area red.

Big red welts, appear in a cluster of several bites. In a some kind of a pattern.

When does the bite mark appear:

Right after the biting takes place. You can even feel the mosquito bite you and as soon as it flies away the bite mark can be seen.

It can take from 24 hours up to a few days to develop the bite marks.

How long does the bite last:

If you don’t scratch it it should go away in a week. You can treat it with cream for insect bites to relieve the itching and help it heal.

It will go away in a week if you don’t scratch it. Treat it with bug bite cream or aloe vera.

Who has a reaction:

Absolutely everyone has a reaction and a bite mark after a mosquito feeds on them.

There’s not a clear distinction why some people have a reaction and blisters and others don’t. It’s because everyone’s organism reacts differently.

Location:

Anywhere. Mosquitoes will bite exposed skin no matter where it is. On occasions, they would even bite you through thin clothing.

They do not bite through clothes and do not go under your clothes to feed on you. Bed bugs bite exposed skin while you sleep in areas near their hiding places.

Mosquito bite symptoms: how long before they appear?

Symptoms of a mosquito bite can be the white or red bumps that appear on the bitten place minutes after the biting has taken place. And they will itch… a lot.

There isn’t a single person in the world that is immune to mosquito bites. If you are bitten you will have a reaction. It is possible that some people experience more severe symptoms. Kids who are not bitten often or people with immune system problems can show more serious symptoms such as:

How long mosquito bites last?

The bite marks will go away in no less than a week if you don’t scratch them. If you apply cream to ease the itching and the bite, they might go away faster.

However, if you are allergic to the bites, you will then have the so-called “Skeeter Syndrome” which can cause painful swelling, blisters, or even fever.

Even though it can happen to people of all ages and anywhere in the world, it more often occurs in children whose immune system is not used to the mosquito’s saliva. In such cases, the bite marks may go away in a couple of weeks.

Can mosquito bites get infected? Can bed bug bites get infected?

Yes. Both can get infected if you scratch the bites too much. They become irritated sometimes bleed open and if they get contaminated they will become infected. If this happens and the bite marks become redder, bigger or you start to feel pain around them, seek your doctor’s help.

4 Мosquito bites remedies

Aloe vera, in any form, can help you relieve the bite marks. It is anti-inflammatory and is used to heal a variety of minor wounds and other bite marks. You can use a store-bought gel or the juice from a medicinal aloe vera plant.

Bug bite ointments with main ingredients lidocaine or benzocaine will help relieve the pain (if any) and the itching.

Hydrocortisone creams are probably the most effective thing you can use to relieve the mosquito bite.

Chamomile or chamomile tea bags. It is said to have soothing properties, which is exactly what your mosquito bites need. You’ll need a used but cold tea bag to place it over the bites to cool the area and stop the inflammation.

Bed bug bites symptoms

Raised red bumps that itch. The bites will be in some kind of a pattern. They also appear about 24 hours after you have been bitten by the bed bug.

Possible severe reactions to the bites include:

fever

nausea

swollen tongue

having problem breathing

unusual heartbeat

sleep deprivation which may cause fatigue, anxiety or depression, even problems with the immune system

What to do when bed bugs bite?

Applying ice to the bite marks might temporarily relieve the itching as well.

Antihistamine medications (creams or tablets) can also help. If you are not sure what to take, ask your doctor.

Just like with mosquito bites, corticosteroids are helpful with bed bugs bites as well.

Do bed bug bites itch or hurt?

They itch. In some cases, they itch a lot. If they start hurting it means that you have scratched them too hard, and if the problem gets worse it may have become an infestation. Call your doctor if you are suspicious.

How long does bed bug bite last?

The appearance of the bites depends on the individual’s reaction. Some people get the marks the day after the biting, some get them days after the feeding has taken place and some people don’t get any at all. People with higher sensitivity to the bites will have blisters, and some people will not have them no matter how many bed bugs there are in the house.

Under normal circumstances, the bite marks should go away in a week or two. If a person is more sensitive to bug bites might take longer to heal.

Identifying a bed bug bite

Bed bug bites are often mistaken for mosquito bites, but there are also other bugs that cause itchy bite marks that you may confuse them with.

Many people cannot tell the difference between bed bug bites and dust mite allergy. The main difference is that dust mites don’t bite. What people’s rashes are is just an allergic reaction to them. Not bite marks.

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